Boy name · Germanic
Hugh
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: heart, mindHugh is a boy's name that comes from Germanic and means "heart, mind". It is used in English, Irish and Scottish.
- Meaning
- Heart, mind
- Origin
- Germanic
- Gender
- Boy
- US rank
- #732 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Hugh
As a boy's name, Hugh comes from Germanic and means "heart, mind". It is used in English, Irish and Scottish.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Hugh on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Hugh on 5 lists.
“Mind, spirit; Germanic. Gentle and old-fashioned”
From Boy middle names, one-syllable boy middle names
“Mind, spirit; Germanic. The first Capetian king of France bore it”
From Classic boy names, royal and noble boy names
“Mind, spirit; Germanic. Borne by Capet, crowned king of France in 987”
From Medieval names and surnames, medieval male names from England and France
“Heart, mind; Germanic. Hughie for short”
From Old man names, short and sturdy old guy names
“Heart, mind; Germanic, brought to England by the Normans”
From Unique boy names, short unique boy names
How popular is Hugh?
- US rank in 2025
- #732
- 360 babies, 211 per million boys
- Best rank
- #69 in 1887
- Most babies: 1,619 in 1916
- Babies since 1880
- At least 83,825
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 2,150 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 2,108 per million |
| 1900s | 1,603 per million |
| 1910s | 1,528 per million |
| 1920s | 1,280 per million |
| 1930s | 1,107 per million |
| 1940s | 739 per million |
| 1950s | 480 per million |
| 1960s | 352 per million |
| 1970s | 192 per million |
| 1980s | 112 per million |
| 1990s | 92 per million |
| 2000s | 95 per million |
| 2010s | 132 per million |
| 2020s | 193 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #850 | #838 | #806 | #799 | #749 | #742 | #804 | #785 | #762 | #732 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Other forms of Hugh
The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.
- HugoHeart, mind (Germanic, boy)
- HuwHeart, mind (Germanic, boy)
- UgoHeart, mind (Germanic, boy)
Names spelled like Hugh
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- HuaFlower; magnificent (depends on characters) (Chinese, unisex)
- HunMerit, achievement (depends on hanja) (Korean, boy)
Names with a similar meaning
- HubertBright heart (Germanic, boy)
- DilaraAdorner of the heart; beloved (Persian, girl)
- ArsinoeRaising of the mind (Greek, girl)
- BahmanGood mind (Persian, boy)
- CordulaLittle heart (Latin, girl)
- CroíaHeart (Irish Gaelic, girl)
- DelaraAdorning the heart (Persian, girl)
- DelshadHappy heart, cheerful (Persian, unisex)
- DilayHeart moon (Turkish, girl)
- FouadHeart (Arabic, boy)
Middle names for Hugh
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
- CooperBarrel maker (English, boy)
- FrederickPeaceful ruler (Germanic, boy)
- MatthewGift of God (Hebrew, boy)
- NathanielGod has given (Hebrew, boy)
- SpencerSteward, dispenser (Old French, boy)
- ValentineStrong, healthy (Latin, unisex)
- WayneWagon maker or driver (Old English, boy)
- WesleyWest meadow (Old English, boy)
More boy names from Germanic
- LiamShort for William, will helmet (Germanic, boy)
- RobertBright fame (Germanic, boy)
- LambertBright land (Germanic, boy)
- LeonardoBrave lion (Germanic, boy)
- AlaricRuler of all (Germanic, boy)
- AlbertNoble and bright (Germanic, boy)
- AlbertoNoble and bright (Germanic, boy)
- ArmandoArmy man (Germanic, boy)
- ArnoEagle (Germanic, boy)
- ArnoldEagle power (Germanic, boy)
Hugh: common questions
What does the name Hugh mean?
Hugh comes from Germanic and means "heart, mind".
Is Hugh a boy or girl name?
Hugh is mainly a boy's name.
Where does the name Hugh come from?
Hugh comes from Germanic and means "heart, mind". Today it is used in English, Irish and Scottish.
How popular is the name Hugh?
Hugh ranked #732 in the US in 2025, with 360 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are other forms of Hugh?
Forms of Hugh with the same meaning and origin include Hugo (English), Huw (Welsh) and Ugo (Italian).
What middle names go with Hugh?
Middle names that flow well with Hugh include Cooper, Frederick, Matthew, Nathaniel and Spencer. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.